Today in history

Today is Sunday, March 16, the 75th day of 2003. There are 290 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On March 16, 1802, Congress authorized the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

On this date:

In 1836, the Republic of Texas approved a constitution.

In 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel "The Scarlet Letter" was first published.

In 1915, the Federal Trade Commission was organized.

In 1935, Adolf Hitler scrapped the Treaty of Versailles.

In 1945, during World War II, Iwo Jima was declared secured by the Allies.

In 1968, during the Vietnam War, the My Lai Massacre was carried out by U.S. troops.

In 1978, Italian politician Aldo Moro was kidnapped by left-wing urban guerrillas, who later murdered him.

In 1985, Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press, was abducted in Beirut; he was released in December 1991.

Ten years ago: President Clinton met with ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide; afterward, Clinton announced he was sending a special envoy to Haiti to seek a return to democracy.

Five years ago: In a long-awaited document that Jewish leaders immediately criticized, the Vatican expressed remorse for the cowardice of some Christians during the Holocaust, but defended the actions of Pope Pius XII.